The Newsletter of the Somerset Intelligence

SINePost

The newsletter of the Somerset Intelligence

Somerset Community Safety Strategic Assessment

Somerset’s annual Community Safety Strategic Assessment (CSSA) for 2013/14 has been published. The report provides an overview of crime and community safety in Somerset using data and intelligence from a range of national and local sources, including the Police, Local Authorities, Fire Service, Somerset Drug and Alcohol Partnership and Somerset Road Safety:

Some of the key issues cited include shoplifting, dwelling burglaries, thefts from motor vehicles, domestic violence, misuse of alcohol, and serious road casualties amongst older people. The report also considers issues of data collection and information sharing between community safety partners.

Population Estimates (Mid-2012)

The Office for National Statistics has published latest annual population estimates (as of 30 June 2012) at local authority district level, including breakdowns by single year of age and sex:

Somerset’s overall population in mid-2012 was estimated at 534,950, representing an increase of 3,369 residents on the previous year. The largest percentage increase in population was seen in Sedgemoor, while West Somerset saw a very slight decrease in population.

Internal Migration between Local Authority areas

The Office for National Statistics has released estimates for internal migration within England and Wales:

An estimated 20,571 people migrated into Somerset from elsewhere in EnglandWales in the year ending June 2012, while 18,201 people migrated out of Somerset. This means a net inflow of 2,370 people into the county.

Despite the overall net inflow, Somerset continues to experience a net outflow of young people to other parts of England and Wales. In the year to June 2012 there was a net outflow of 2,009 young people aged 16-24 from Somerset - the third year-on-year increase in succession (there was a net outflow of 1,770 in 2010/11).

All Somerset districts experienced an overall net inflow of people from outside Somerset, with Sedgemoor (739 people) and South Somerset (627) the most. An estimated 6,211 people migrated betweenSomerset districts in the year. A detailed internal migration briefing paper will be published by Somerset Intelligence shortly.

Destinations of School and College Leavers

According to latest figures from the Department for Education, 40% of students in schools or colleges in Somerset went to university the year after taking an A level or equivalent qualification. This was the same proportion as the South West regional average but well below the national average of 48%. The South West has the lowest proportion of students going to university of any region in England:

16 to 18 year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET)

The Department for Education (DfE) has published latest annual estimates of the numbers of young people aged 16 to 18 not in education, employment or training (NEET):

At the end of 2012, an estimated 770 young people in Somerset aged 16 to 18 were NEET, representing 4.5% of the 16-18 population. This was the second lowest proportion of any local authority in the South West (after North Somerset).

The DfE suggest that for most young people, being NEET is a temporary outcome as they move between different education and training options – national surveys estimate that only around 1% of young people are NEET at ages 16, 17 and 18.

Somerset Employment and Skills Board (ESB) dashboard

A new update to the Somerset Employment and Skills Board (ESB) dashboard is now available, providing latest data on 20 key indicators relating to employment, education and skills in Somerset:

Young Carers

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published analysis on the prevalence and general health of young carers, using data from the 2011 Census:

While data for the 5 to 17 age group has not been released at local authority level, in the South West it is estimated that 2.2% of this group provide unpaid care. If Somerset is typical of this figure, it would suggest around 1,750 young unpaid carers in the county. Health wise, around 13% of young people in the South West providing 50 or more hours care per week identified their health as ‘not good’.

Further analysis related to unpaid carers of all ages is available on the Somerset Intelligence website:

Premature Mortality

Public Health England’s new Longer Lives website ranks 150 local authorities in England by their premature death rates (that is, deaths occurring before the age of 75):

Somerset performs well; ranking 26th ‘best’ of 150 authorities in terms of its premature death rate. In terms of common causes of death, Somerset ranks 19th best for cancer and 13th best for heart disease and stroke. When compared against other local authority areas with similar socio-economic profiles, Somerset also performs well, ranking 6th best out of 15.

It is acknowledged that while the rankings provide an overall picture for each local authority area, death rates within each local authority will vary significantly.

Measuring National Wellbeing: Mental Health

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published analysis looking at ‘satisfaction with health’ and ‘evidence of mental ill-health’ as part of an ongoing series on the nation’s wellbeing.

Key findings were:

Around a fifth (19%) of individuals aged 16 or over had some indication of anxiety or depression, with a higher proportion of women than men, and a higher proportion of those aged between 40 and 59 or aged 80 and over.
Some evidence of anxiety and depression occurred in a higher percentage of those who were: divorced; not in paid work; dissatisfied with their health; caring for someone else in the household; or living on their own.

2011 Census Detailed Characteristics: Housing

Housing is the focus for the second phase of multivariate statistics from the 2011 Census just released by the Office for National Statistics. The release includes combinations of variables related to tenure, household size, numbers of bedrooms, occupancy ratings and car ownership. The full list of new tables is available at the following link:

The Somerset Intelligence team will be analysing the new data and highlighting key findings for Somerset.

South West Observatory (SWO) Annual Report

The South West Observatory has published its Annual Report for 2012/13. The report highlights activity over the last year, including contributions from local intelligence teams:

Forthcoming Statistical Releases

The following datasets are due for release at sub-regional geographies during July:

Adult Social Care Survey, England - 2012-2013, Provisional (NHS)
Life expectancy at birth and at age 65 by local areas in England and Wales - 2009-11 (ONS)
2011 Census - Detailed Characteristics for 2011 Census Merged Wards and Middle Layer Super Output Areas in England and Wales (ONS)
2011 Census Analysis - Ethnic variations in general health and unpaid care provision
Crime Statistics - period ending March 2013 (ONS).